South Africa: Hazy View, Kruger and surroundings (7th to
10th of August 2009)

We decided to take a break and go site seeing around the Hazyview area (next
to the Kruger National Park) over a long weekend. Four days were way to short
since there was so much to see. This area is really worthwhile visiting. Here
are some of the places and things we did get around to seeing.

Day 1 (7th of August)

First stop was at Milly's restaurant (just before Machadodorp) for some
refreshments. They have a big trout dam next to the restaurant and more
importantly some very nice deserts.

We can also recommend the food
shop which has some very yummy homemade goodies.

From Milly's we headed north to Lydenburg where we stopped at the
Lydenburg museum. We
think it is worth a stop over. It is small, but gives and overview of
the area's history. It is also the home of the Lydenburg Heads. These
clay masks have both human and animal features, a characteristic that
may explain that they had symbolic use during initiation- and other
religious ceremonies. Carbon dating proved that the heads date to
approximately 490 AD and were made by Early Iron Age people. (Photo by
Jenny)

From Lydenburg we headed off to Sabie for lunch and visited some of the
waterfalls in the area. This is the Horseshoe falls so named for the
shape of the falls.

The next stop was the Lone Creek Falls.

There are some interesting rock formations at the Lone Creek Falls which
clearly shows how the earths curst has moved over the millennia.

Finally we arrived at our home base for the next couple of days. The
Cuckoo Ridge B&B is well situated and provides all the necessary
amenities and a fantastic view over the valley.

The owner and her
husband spent some time in the middle east, so we had lots to talk
about.

The beautiful flower of the Transvaal Kafferboom or Common Coral Tree (Erythrina
Lysistemon).

Erythrina lysistemon is a very decorative tree
but it is also an important component of the ecosystem, providing food
and shelter for a variety of birds, animals and insects.

They have been regarded as royal trees, and were planted on the
graves of Zulu chiefs. The flowering of the trees has been, and still
is, a good signal to the people that it is time to plant their crops.

It is thought to have both medicinal and magical properties by many
people. Crushed leaves placed on a maggot-infested wound are said to
clear the maggots. The bark applied as a poultice is used to treat
sores, wounds, abscesses and arthritis. Infusions of the leaves are used
as ear drops to relieve earache, and decoctions of the roots are applied
to sprains. It does contain a large number of alkaloids that are known
to be highly toxic, but its use in traditional medicine suggests that
they have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

The seeds are used as lucky charms. They also contain toxic alkaloids
as well as anti-blood-clotting substances that may be of value in the
treatment of thrombosis.

Day 2 (8th of August)

After breakfast, it was time for a tour up to the Blyde River canyon.
First stop was at Harrie's Pancakes, in Graskop, for a morning coffee
and pancakes. Can't start a long trip without sweets.

From Graskop we headed out to the magnificent
God's Window. The view was absolutely breathtaking. It is
rumored that
on a clear day you can see all the way to the Kruger National Park.

After the amazing vista, we went on to visit some of the waterfalls in
the area. The first stop was at the Lisbon Falls. At 92m, it is the
highest falls in the area.

Jenny was not impressed when I climbed down
the cliff face to get a better shot of the falls. (Photo by Jenny)

The next stop was at the Berlin Falls.

Then we stopped over at Burke's Luck Potholes. It is just amazing to see
how the swirling whirlpools has carved out the cylindrical potholes in
the rock. This is also the start of the beginning of the Blyde River
Canyon.

Obviously some people believe that the potholes are a wishing
well if you look at the numerous coins in one of the potholes in the
bottom photo.

Hey, I take photographs. I never said that I can read. (Photo by Jenny)

The two women in my life at the
Three Rondawels. They have been so named because they resemble the local
bantu homes, which are called rondawels.

A view down the
Blyde River Canyon. What a view!! (Photo by Jenny)

Me and my gorgeous wife at the
Blyderiver Canyon.

Next stop was at the Old Lady of the Shoe for lunch. This is also the
site of the Alfa Omega Caves.

From the Old Lady of the Shoe we headed through Ohrigstad and stopped to
take in this beautiful sunset after visiting Pilgrim's Rest.

Day 3 (9th of August)

On the third day we decided to spend the day in the Kruger National
Park. After a long time of driving and seeing almost nothing we came
across this herd of elephants crossing the road. (Photo by Jenny)

We
did not see a lot of animals during our visit, but I have included
photos of the few we did come across.

Right before we left the park we did encounter a Leopard which made
the visit worthwhile (See
Wildlife under
Photography).

The Common Duiker also known as the Gray or Bush Duiker.

A Redcrested Korhaan (Boskorhaan).

The beautiful Lilacbreasted Roller (Gewone Troupant).

A Nile Crocodile basking in the sun.

A Nile Monitor (Water Likkewaan).

A Whitebacked vulture (Witrugaasvoël/Witkopaasvoël).

Day 4 (10th of August)

Day 4 and unfortunately time to head back home after a wonderfully
relaxing couple of days.

Our first attempt at a lunch stop was the
Tickled Trout in Waterval-Onder. They did not have any trout on the
menu. This is truly a one-horse town, where the horse has died a long
time ago.

On our way to Waterval-Boven (where we eventually found lunch) we
stopped to take a walk through the Z.A.S.M. (Nederlandsche
Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorweg-Maatschappij) train tunnel which was built in
1893.

President Paul Kruger’s official residence, where he resided in
1900 before going into exile in Europe, is located in Waterval-Boven.

On getting to the other side of the tunnel, you have a lovely view of
the
Elands River Falls.